Weekly Activity: July 24, 2023
Working and Playing

DIY Music Makers
(Early Literacy)

Make a Mini Maraca (Toddlers/Preschoolers) Children use funnels (or their hands) to fill a cardboard tube (empty paper towel or toilet paper tube) with dry beans or rice. Prepare tubes by covering one end with construction paper and a tight rubber band. Provide funnels, construction paper, and a second tight rubber band. After the maraca has been filled, caregivers cover the other end, and children can shake!

More DIY Instruments to Play with Family and Friends
(Elementary, Middle Grades)

Harmonicas

Materials

• Two jumbo popsicle sticks per harmonica
• One wide rubber band per harmonica
• Two small rubber bands per harmonica
• Plastic (or strong paper) straws cut into 1-inch pieces
• Scissors

Assembly

1. Cut straw into two 1-inch pieces.
2. Wrap the wide rubber band lengthwise around one popsicle stick.
3. Tuck one straw piece under the rubber band on one end of the popsicle stick.
4. Place the other piece of straw on top of the rubber band on the other end of the popsicle stick.
5. Place the remaining popsicle stick on top lengthwise and wrap small rubber bands around each end of the popsicle sticks.

Jingle Sticks

Materials

• Dowel rods, popsicle sticks, or pencils
• Pipe cleaners
• Glue or duct tape (optional)
• Jingle bells
• Optional: Art supplies to decorate the stick

Assembly

1. First, decorate the dowel rod, if desired.
2. String two to six jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner, making sure to leave room at the top and bottom.
3. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the dowel rod, twisting and securing at the top and bottom. Glue or duct tape to secure it is optional.
4. Twist and secure additional chenille stems with jingle bells onto the dowel rod if desired.

Kazoos

Materials

• Cardboard tubes, such as toilet paper rolls paper towel rolls cut in half
• Rubber bands
• Wax paper
• Scissors
• Sharp pencil or other object to poke holes
• Optional: Art supplies to decorate the tube

Assembly

1. First, decorate the cardboard tube, if desired.
2. Cover the end of the cardboard tube with a piece of wax paper and secure with a rubber band.
3. If using a toilet paper roll, poke one or two holes in the middle of the tube about 1-inch apart. If using a paper towel roll, poke two or three holes in the middle of the tube about 2-inches apart.

No-Sew Blankets
(Teens, Adults)

Work with family or a friend to make no-sew blankets to donate to a local charity or organization, or to keep! Buy the fleece (or purchase kits) from places like Joann Fabrics and Crafts, or Walmart.

Materials

• Fleece (60 x 60 inches—two pieces per blanket)
• Scissors

Assembly

If you are buying the fleece yourself, make sure it is cut to 60 x 60 inches.

Step 1: Line up the fabric pieces with the right (fuzzy) sides out, and trim as needed to ensure they are the same size.

Step 2: Cut a 5-inch square in each corner.

Step 3: Cut the fringe along all four sides. Fringe pieces should be a little wider than the width of your finger; cut them five inches from the edge. Make sure you are cutting through both fleece fabrics at the same time.

Step 4: With fringe pieces lined up, begin tying the knots. Continue all around the edges until the blanket until finished.